A total of 65 immigrants arrived today on the island of El Hierro in the Canaries and it is thought that up to 43 of them could be minors.

Apparently, the boat they were travelling in was spotted at around midday by the islands' Integrated Surveillance System (SIVE) when it was about half a mile from the La Restinga area of El Hierro island.

Three minutes later the boat was intercepted by a boat from the Maritime Rescue Services, whose crew found theoccupants to be in a good state health.

The immigrants have been taken to a temporary shelter in the island's capital, Valverde, and sources suggest that although it will be necessary to wait for the results of tests, 43 of the immigrants appear to be minors, which would be the largest number to have arrived on any one single boat.